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By Rhonda Chriss Lokeman, Special to The Star

Our former city auditor doesn’t track money. Too busy. Mayor Mark Funkhouser’s disinterest in accounting and accountability is profoundly disturbing.

Thousands of offenders leave prison each year unprepared for life on the outside. Returning to impoverished neighborhoods, they lack job skills and support systems. Not surprisingly, nearly half of released inmates are back behind bars within three years.

The latest sign that protectionist sentiment in Congress has reached unreasonable levels was a House vote late last week that essentially put a pending free-trade pact with Colombia in limbo.

The Colombia deal would be a clear win for the U.S. economy. It would support jobs in American export industries and buttress a key ally in Latin America.

Should Congress approve the trade deal with Colombia? Leave your comments here?

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

Barack Obama's recent comments about working class voters won't score points for him in the Heartland. Even though his words ring true, this is the kind of dustup that makes him look arrogant.